PRESTON North End have been forced into issuing another hands off warning over manager David Moyes after a further round of speculation about his future.

Nottingham Forest are believed to have put the Scot on their short-list to replace Ron Atkinson, who announced his retirement from the game minutes after Forest were condemned to life in Division One at the weekend.

Despite the media interest in Moyes, who has done an amazing job in reversing North End's fortunes since he took over the role last season, deputy chairman Derek Shaw is determined that his manager is going to remain at Deepdale for some time yet.

He said: "We have been through this one before. We have received no offer and as far as I am concerned David is staying here."

Moyes' profile has been raised immeasurably this season, not least since his team's battling performance against Arsenal in the FA Cup at the start of this year.

Speculation that Alex Ferguson wanted to poach him to fill the vacancy created by his number two Brian Kidd - who moved into the hot seat at Blackburn - filled the nationals during January, again making him a target for future rumours.

But the suggestion that he could be about to make the move to Nottinghamshire couldn't have come at a worse time for the club.

Having seen any hopes of making the automatic promotion place slip away during PNE's draw at Milwall - surely two points lost rather than one gained - North End now face the gruelling prospect of going into the play-offs.

And the team needs to be on a high for that one because the form book does tend to go out the window once the teams arrive at Wembley, if indeed, North End get that far.

On a positive note, Roy Evans has already thrown his hat into the ring for the job at the City Ground.

He is currently redundant after his nightmare partnership with Gerrard Houllier was ended earlier in the season, so Forest wouldn't have to pay out another club to win his services. He has also proven himself at the highest level.

North End, on the other hand, would be looking for a large lump sum in compensation - and that might be enough to keep the Forest at bay.

As for Moyes, all he would say was: "I have enough to think about trying to do my job here."

Preston are looking for a near full house on Saturday for the last home game of the season, against surviving Notts County.

Michael Appleton is expected to return for the game after serving a one-match ban last weekend, while Mark Rankine could have recovered from his ankle injury. But Eyres, Nogan, Cartwright, Kidd and Parkinson are all ruled out as they continue to work in the treatment room.

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